Education Mission

The New-York Historical Society Education Division provides dynamic programming and curriculum resources for students and teachers in New York and beyond. Historical study sparks curiosity and creativity, promotes cultural understanding, and fosters an empowered citizenry to strengthen our democracy. Our staff of passionate professionals draws on our world-renowned collections to engage learners of all ages in the study of our collective past.

Education programs made possible through endowments established by:
National Endowment for the Humanities
The Hearst Foundations
The Peter Jay Sharp Foundation

Public funding provided by:
Institute for Museum and Library Services
New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council
New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew Cuomo and the New York State Legislature

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The American Revolution:1776 (grades 4 – 8)
What role did slavery and enslaved people play in the American Revolution? Learn about the political debates that shaped the Declaration of Independence, then explore the experiences of enslaved people in New York during the Revolutionary War.Songs: “Sit Down, John!” and “Molasses to Rum to Slaves”

The Gold Rush:Paint Your Wagon (grades 4 – 8)
What daily challenges faced those who migrated West to pan for gold? Investigate the causes and effects of the California Gold Rush, then experience cultural conflict in a mining town from the perspective of Latin American prospectors.Song: “On My Way”

Westward Expansion:Oklahoma! (grades 4 – 8)
How did Indian Territory become the state of Oklahoma? Compare the idealized American West of Oklahoma! to the realities of the conflict over land, and consider the consequences of this struggle for ranchers, farmers, and Native Americans.Songs: “The Farmer and the Cowman,” “Oklahoma!” and “Oh, What a Beautiful Morning”

The Great Depression:Annie (grades 7 – 11)
Why were photographs, radio plays, popular music, and other media critical to American morale during the Great Depression? Discover how the economic trends of the 1920s contributed to the Great Depression, then create radio plays to promote the Works Progress Administration (WPA).Songs:“We’d Like to Thank You, Herbert Hoover” and “Tomorrow”

World War II:On the Town and This Is the Army (grades 7 – 11)
What were the wartime experiences of African American civilians and soldiers? Analyze wartime industrial production’s impact on the American workforce, then consider how African Americans responded to discrimination in the military and on the home front.Songs: “New York, New York” and “That’s What the Well-Dressed Man in Harlem Will Wear”

Puerto Rican Migration:West Side Story (grades 7 – 11)
How did Puerto Rican migration and housing policy change New York City after WWII? Explore the motivations and experiences of Puerto Rican migrants to New York, then investigate the impact of urban development on young people and their neighborhoods.Songs: “Prologue” and “America”